PHILADELPHIA—The Phillies drafted a pair of promising high school outfielders from Southern California in 2008. Zach Collierwent 34th overall, followed by Anthony Goseat No. 51.

Many in the organization envisioned the duo one day becoming two-thirds of the outfield in Philadelphia.

That scenario, however, didn't play out.

Gose,
traded twice, made his big league debut with the Blue Jays in 2012,
hitting .223/.303/.319 with 15 steals in 56 games. Collier, meanwhile,
hasn't played beyond high Class A Clearwater.

Injuries and
mistakes have slowed Collier's progress, but the Phillies haven't given
up on the 22-year-old. They proved that by sending him to the Arizona
Fall League and then adding him to the 40-man roster.

"Big
time," he said. "Going there definitely showed they still have interest
me. There were a lot of top prospects there, and for me to be there
made me feel really good."

"He showed me a lot in the fall league," said Dusty Wathan,
who managed Collier in Arizona and could again at Double-A Reading in
2013. "He not only hung with guys that were maybe a little more advanced
than him, but he actually had a lot of success.

"He swung the bat well, ran well and played well at three outfield positions."

With his athletic, 6-foot-2 frame and smooth lefty swing, Collier drew comparisons with Garret Andersoncoming out of high school in Chino Hills, Calif.

His
progress was slowed significantly by his inability to stay on the
field, however. Collier missed all of 2010 with hand and wrist injuries.
He got back on the field in 2011 but tested positive for Adderall and
missed the first 50 games of 2012.

Collier has since been granted
medical clearance to take the drug for attention deficit disorder, and
Phillies officials believe he can follow Gose's lead to the majors.

"The tools are all there," Wathan said. "It's just a matter of getting them out in games and being consistent."

PHIL-UPS

• The Phillies signed 30-year-old righthander Zach Minerto a minor league contract with an invitation to big league camp. He last pitched in the big leagues for the 2009 Tigers.

• Club officials say they will give minor league home run champ Darin Ruf, who belted 10 homers in the Venezuelan League, a chance to win the left-field job in spring training.